Jody, 29, hasn't spoken to her mother in 18 months after a phone call turned sour. She describes her mother as emotionally volatile and manipulative, saying she used to beg for forgiveness to avoid being frozen out. Now, Jody has decided to cut all contact, a move she believes is necessary for her own wellbeing, though she still misses her mother.
Estrangement is more common than many think. Research by the charity Stand Alone suggests around one in five British families may be affected. In the US, a study found 6% of respondents were estranged from their mother and 26% from their father. The phenomenon is increasingly discussed openly, with figures like Diane Abbott and Prince Harry sharing their experiences.
Becca Bland, founder of Stand Alone, notes that estrangement often stems from serious issues such as abuse, addiction, or irreconcilable differences. She emphasises that it is not a decision taken lightly, given the financial and emotional costs involved. The peak age for estrangement is the late 20s and 30s, when individuals are more financially independent.
